Only transgender drag queens are welcome (file photo) An alternative Glasgow pride event has sparked debate after banning drag queens from the event, then altering that so it’s only excluding non-trans drag queens – saying they make people questioning their gender uncomfortable. Free Pride Glasgow is described as an “anti-commercialist” alternative to the main Pride Glasgow event. Its trans and non-binary caucus decided not to have drag acts perform at the event next month. In a statement to Pink News, it now says after further consultation, trans drag performers will be invited to perform. “The trans caucus and Free Pride as a whole thought protecting the privacy of trans drag performers was the most important thing, but trans drag performers have let us know that letting them perform is more important to them. “People appeared to understand that we attempted to communicate that trans drag performers’ rights are secondary to other trans people’s rights. “We did not mean to send this message and apologise to trans drag performers for unintentionally doing so. Unfortunately this also appears to have offended trans drag performers.” It continues: “We understand that many, if not all other venues celebrating pride around Glasgow will have drag performers throughout the day and so we want to provide something different. “We understand that drag is multifaceted and complex, and drag acts come from all angles and in a lot of different styles and we certainly do not want to attack individual drag queens or imply that all drag is inherently transphobic or problematic. “However our focus for the day will be on creating an alternative that puts minorities within our community at the heart of event.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 22nd July 2015 - 1:26pm